Erich's body cut through the wind as he plummeted toward the ground. However, it was as if Erich had forgotten where he was falling—his gaze was fixed on a single point.

― Ta-at!

As Erich's foot landed on the ice-covered surface of the Great Wall, a flurry of snow erupted. He almost seemed to be gliding down the wall, sliding expertly along its face.

Amidst the swirling blizzard, the only thing visible was the glimmer of Erich's twin crimson eyes. But at some point, Erich abruptly yanked the rope tied around his waist in the opposite direction.

― Paak!

With that, Erich's body, which had been plummeting at breakneck speed, suddenly braked and bounced upward. Repeating the motion, Erich was able to skillfully move along the wall toward the spot he had been targeting.

This rope, used by those standing guard on the Great Wall, was not just a matter of tradition.

It was a practical method used in the battles that had once taken place on the Great Wall.

A watcher standing guard on the towering wall would have trouble checking the base even on the clearest days. So, in the Great Wall's frequent overcast and blizzard conditions, proper vigilance was almost impossible.

But by making use of the rope—now mostly a ceremonial act in the Watch—one could move along the wall and easily check beneath it.

― Piing!

The veins in Erich's forearm bulged as he adjusted the rope to just the right length and rappelled skillfully along the wall.

'I found it.'

Erich's gaze settled on a dark mass pressed against the wall. It hadn't even noticed Erich's approach.

Of course not. No one would expect someone to approach from midair, not from the top of the Great Wall.

― Kwaak!

"Kuh-urk?!"

Erich, cutting through the air, grabbed the nape of its neck with a powerful twist. The dusky figure jerked in surprise, struggling violently.

But like a bird gripping its prey in its talons, the creature could not escape Erich's iron grasp.

Then, pulling the rope even harder than before, Erich ricocheted upward with powerful momentum.

― Piing! Kwadangtangtangtang!

In an instant, Erich was back atop the wall, flinging the intruder lightly aside. The assailant, stunned by the sudden violence, curled up and glared back at his attacker.

But standing behind him was Frederick, who wore a blank, dazed expression.

"... What's all this, then."

As Frederick spoke, the assailant realized someone else was behind him. A glint of light flashed from a chunk of metal at his side.

― Kwaak!

"Gyaaaah!"

Frederick showed no sign of panic at the assailant's sudden attack. He seized the dagger as it was swung at him and twisted the attacker's wrist.

Before the assailant could recover, Frederick's fist crashed into his face.

― Ppak!

"Kheup!"

With a crack like breaking bone, the assailant toppled forward. Frederick, standing over the fallen man, spoke.

"... Next time, warn me if you're planning to surprise me. I need time to prepare myself, you know."

Frederick squinted at Erich with narrowed eyes. But Erich only gave a faint smile.

His gaze was fixed neither on the sudden assailant nor on Frederick, who had responded so deftly.

Instead, Erich's gaze landed on an object right beside the collapsed attacker—a wooden box covered by a thin cloth.

― Flap.

Lifting the cloth with his hand, the wind caught it, causing it to flutter. Inside, bottles of a strange violet liquid were revealed.

'So this was it.'

Gradually, the puzzle in Erich's mind began to fit together piece by piece. The bottles contained 'Orca-roid'.

By confirming the presence of this potion, Erich was certain he could uncover the disturbance occurring at this outpost.

He thought of the smuggling of 'Orca-roid'—a mystery that, before his return, had been buried with ominous significance.

***

"Ugghhh..."

The man woke slowly, head aching as if it would split open. With a start, he looked around.

"Awake, are you? You didn't have to hit him so hard, you know."

"You think that's easy? Try holding back when someone comes at you with a knife."

"Still, we need him awake enough to talk."

― Poke.

The assailant felt a strange sensation. Something cold and heavy rested on his knee.

"... Damn it."

Before him stood a youth with long black curly hair. He looked young, but there was no hesitation in his smile as he pressed a sword against the assailant without a second thought. That cold sensation was the blade itself.

"That's not what I'm after."

He could feel the pressure from the blade. If the young man pressed any harder, it would easily pierce his thigh.

"So, are you going to talk? Look at this guy's defiant eyes. See? This works better."

― Kwaak!

The assailant's eyes grew wide. Frederick, a bandit-like man standing nearby, had slammed a dagger down between the attacker's legs. The force made it quiver. If Frederick had missed even slightly, he might have had to say goodbye forever to what lay between his legs.

At the horrific thought, the assailant gulped.

― Gulp.

"I-I protest... Get someone important from this outpost—"

"Is this bastard still not getting it?"

― Kwaaak.

Frederick's iron grip seized the man's jaw, radiating a forceful intent that seemed ready to crush it.

"The suicides at this Black Serpent outpost. Was it all you and your group?"

"I-I don't know anything! I was just asked to do a favor... Hiiik!"

― Kuuk!

Frederick gave the dagger a slight kick, moving it even closer to the man's groin.

"Young master Erich can go outside. I'll handle the rough part here."

"Go ahead and do what you need to do. I don't get to see things like this every day—it'll be a good experience."

The assailant's eyes were full of terror. Thoughts raced through his mind about how terribly these people could treat him. Was keeping his mouth shut really wise?

It didn't take long to consider.

"I-I'll talk! I was really just doing a favor! I'm not a barbarian or a serf! You can tell just by looking—I'm just a regular trooper from the 'Green Wolf' outpost!"

The assailant screamed desperately. Erich and Frederick exchanged glances, as if weighing the truth in his words.

"Doesn't seem like he's lying. He doesn't strike me as the type to wager his privates on a bluff."

"I'd expect as much. For a job of this scale, they may have only used him for transport. But there's something I want to know: who ordered you to do this, what were you promised, and what were you supposed to do if caught?"

Trembling, the assailant gestured toward his waist, as if hinting they should check.

Frederick glanced at Erich, then approached and retrieved an item from the man's belt.

Upon examining it, Frederick's brow furrowed.

*

"... A fur coat and a mask?"

"T-they said if I put those on and ran, I'd be fine! I swear!"

The identity of the yeti and ghost rumors swirling at the Black Serpent outpost was revealed. In Frederick's hand was a black fur coat and a white mask.

"And the troopers fell for a stupid trick like this?"

"Of course they did. Rumors work that way."

Erich swiftly pieced together what had happened. Whoever orchestrated this used the troopers' fear against them.

This thug was only tasked with transporting a box. If caught, he'd simply disguise himself and run away as planned.

It could have ended as a simple incident, but if someone had actually died, the report of seeing a monster would have merged with their fear into the perfect lie.

"The epaulet on that black cloak is real. He's from the Green Wolf post. Judging by his skills, he couldn't kill anyone without being noticed, either."

Frederick tossed aside the fur coat and mask, dusting off his hands. Erich agreed with his judgment.

"So who put you up to this?"

"M-Max."

"Max?"

At the name, Erich turned to Frederick. Frederick grimaced as if conflicted.

"Max? That oaf made you do this? Unbelievable."

"You know him?"

'Max' was not a name Erich recalled. Apparently the man hadn't made a name for himself back when Erich was active.

"He's a subordinate of Nicholas— the training unit commander. To put it nicely he's an underling, but he's basically a bastard. If Nicholas told him to die, he'd really do it."

"Nicholas..."

That made some sense to Erich. He didn't know Max, but he certainly knew Nicholas—an incorrigible troublemaker who rarely helped but always caused chaos.

He'd suspected there were hidden backers, but he never imagined they'd instigate something like this.

Erich's gaze moved from the Orca-roid-filled box to the fur coat, and finally to the captured assailant. Suddenly, the situation became clear.

"So that's it. The spread of Orca-roid in the Watch was thanks to him."

"... Orca-roid?"

Frederick's eyes widened.

"I've heard of fools messing around with that stuff, but why go to all this trouble?"

"We don't know yet, but they must have had their reasons—something they needed to bury at any cost."

Erich and Frederick had different levels of knowledge. At this point, orca-roid hadn't yet caused damage among the Watch, so Frederick's confusion was understandable. But apparently, everyone had let the incident slide at the time.

Otherwise, such a dreadful substance could never have spread so widely. Yet even as he realized the gravity of the situation, Erich's lips curled upward.

'I can change it.'

Orca-roid, which had weakened and nearly crippled the Watch, now presented an opportunity for eradication at its root.

Erich turned from the assailant.

"W-where are you going?"

"I know the direction now. It's time to track him down."

"Who?"

"Nicholas."

Frederick looked back and forth between Erich leaving the storage and the captive.

He clutched his head, clearly exasperated.

Still, Frederick followed Erich out. Whatever happened, after things had gotten this far, there was only one thing to do: see it through to the end.

Or so Frederick seemed to believe.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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